Peter McKelvie claimed a ‘powerful elite’ of paedophiles had been operating in Westminster (Picture: BBC)

There is evidence that at least 20 prominent government figures abused children for decades, according to a former child protection manager.

Peter McKelvie, 65, who kicked off the 2012 police paedophile probe Operation Fernbridge, said a ‘powerful elite’ of paedophiles had been carrying out abuse and that there existed strong evidence to support it.

The former child protection manager told the BBC that victims had spoken to him of ‘rape and beatings’ at the hands of paedophiles operating in the higher echelons of government, saying they were passed around like ‘a lump of meat’.

Home Secretary Theresa May announced the reviews on Monday (Picture: Rocker TV/YouTube)

‘There is strong evidence and an awful lot of information – that can be converted into evidence if it’s investigated properly – that there’s been an extremely powerful elite among the highest levels of the political classes for as long as I’ve been alive,’ he said.

‘There’s been sufficient evidence to investigate it over and over again, certainly for the last 30 years.

‘I would say we are looking at upwards of 20 [former politicians] and a much larger number of people who have known about it and done nothing about it.’

Home Secretary Theresa May announced two reviews into claims of abuse on Monday.

The Home Office’s top civil servant will appear before MPs later today over allegations it mishandled child abuse allegations.